§ 49. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health what are the latest available figures for England and Wales and for Scotland for the recruitment of nurses, showing mental nursing separately from general nursing; and what is the average rate of loss of general and of mental nurses in training.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the level of loss of nurses, particularly in mental nursing, has increased or not in general figures during this last year or so?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see that a further investigation is now in progress with regard to this particular point, and I shall be happy to communicate the effect of it 606 to him when the report is in my possession.
§ Following are the figures:
| ENGLAND AND WALES | |||
| Mental and Mental Deficiency Hospitals | |||
| — | At 31st March, 1957 | At 31st March, 1958 | Increase or decrease |
| Trained nurses whole-time | 14,519 | 14,315 | -204 |
| Part-time | 2,215 | 2,184 | -31 |
| Student nurses | 5,641, | 6,210 | +569 |
| Other nursing staff Whole-time | 8,575 | 8,900 | +325 |
| Part-time | 7,697 | 7,980 | +283 |
| Total | |||
| Whole-time | 28,735 | 29,425 | +690 |
| part-time | 9,912 | 10,164 | +252 |
| Other Hospitals | |||
| Trained nurses Whole-time | 36,859 | 36,822 | -37 |
| Part-time | 9,988 | 10,643 | +655 |
| Student nurses | 46,543 | 47,107 | +564 |
| Other nursing staff Whole-time | 27 062 | 27,550 | +488 |
| Part-time | 16,141 | 17,917 | +1,776 |
| Total | |||
| Whole-time | 110,464 | 111,479 | +1,015 |
| Part-time | 26,129 | 28,560 | +2,431 |
| SCOTLAND | |||
| Mental and Mental Deficiency Hospitals | |||
| — | At 31st March, 1957 | At 31st March, 1958 | Increase or decrease |
| Trained nurses Whole-time | 2,518 | 2,477 | -41 |
| Part-time | 254 | 256 | +2 |
| Student nurses | 1,082 | 1,140 | +58 |
| Other nursing staff Whole-time | 1,519 | 1,578 | +59 |
| Part-time | 697 | 723 | +26 |
| Total | |||
| Whole-time | 5,119 | 5,195 | +76 |
| Part-time | 951 | 979 | +28 |
| Other Hospitals | |||
| Trained nurses Whole-time | 4,569 | 4,583 | +14 |
| Part-time | 1,258 | 1,301 | +43 |
| Student nurses | 6,150 | 6,209 | +59 |
| Other nursing staff Whole-time | 3,392 | 3,573 | +181 |
| Part-time | 2,643 | 2,843 | +200 |
| Total | |||
| Whole-time | 14,111 | 14,365 | +254 |
| Part-time | 3,901 | 4,144 | +243 |
§ The latest available figures of loss during training were compiled in 1953 and showed a loss during general nurse training of 32.3 per cent. for women and 38.2 per cent, for men; and for mental and mental deficiency nurse training, 65.0 per cent. for women and 51.4 per cent. for men. A further investigation is in progress.